Vending machine



1,503,072 yL.. R. sPooNER ET AL. y

VENDI NG MACHINE Filed April 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. R. SPOONER ETAL VENDING MACHINE SSheets-Sheet 2,

Filed April 28 lllllllllllllllllllllllll l,

NRA

nuly 29 l1924.

Patented July 29, 1924.

LEE ROY SPOON'ER AND PAUL L. GRAY, 0F WATERTOWN, SOI'UTH DAKOTA.

vENDIive MACHINE.

Application filed April 28, 1923.. Serial No. 635,252.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that we, LEE ROY SPooNER and PAUL L. GRAY, citizens of theUnited States, residing` at Watertown, in the county of Codington andState of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Vending Machines, of which the following is a specilication,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to avending machine for vending a plurality of dierent articles.

An imprtant object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter wherein a plurality of article containing cabinets areemployed each having a lock discharge slide,

together with a single coin controlled apparatus positionable to unlockand operate the discharge slide of any of the compartments.

A further object of the invention is .to provide a novel and improvedlocking arrangement 'for the discharge slides of the compartments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means preventingshifting of the coin controlled slide operating mechanism from onecompartment to another until the coin controlled operating mechanism hasbeen returned to the locked position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is simple in its construction and arrangement and whichis adjustable to permit the vending from the same compartment ofarticles of different lengths.

These and other objects we attain by the construction kshovvn in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illus` tration isshown apreferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is afront elevation of a vending machine constructed in accordance with ourinvention;

Figure 2 is a perspect-ive view showing the upper side of the ejectormechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the vending apparatus;

Figure 4 is a perspective view'of the bottom side of the ejectormechanism;A

Figures 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views through the coincontrolled mechanism, showing various steps in the operation; and

` zontally disposed strip 14. Above this strip in spaced relationthereto a second strip 15 4connects the ends 11, to which are securedthe forward ends of partitions 16 subdividing the machine above thestrips 14 into a plurality of vertically extending compartments. Thestrip 15 combines with thc partition walls 16 to form guides fortransparent panels 17 which are removable when the hinged top 12 isswung upwardly.A Each compartment C is provided with an adjustable rearwall 18 extending between the adjacent partition walls 16 and mountedfor adjustment toward and away from the transparent panel 17 formingvthe front wall of the compartment, thus permitting the adjustment ofthe length of the compartment to accommodate the article to be vended.

Secured to the rear wall 10 of the machine is a longitudinally extendingstrip 19 to which are secured the rear ends of spaced slats 20, theforward ends of which are set in a rabbet 21 formed'in the rear edge ofthe horizontal strip 14 in such a manner that the upper surface of theseslats is Hush with the upper surface of the strip 14. 'Two of the slats20 are arranged beneath each compartment C and at least one slat of eachpair is provided adjacent its rear end. with a spring catch member 22for a purpose presently to appear.

Slidably mounted at the bottom of each compartment C upon the uppersurface of the slatsl 20 and strip 14 is an article ejector 23. Eacharticle ejector 23 comprises a'base 24 having at its sides flanges 25and at its forward end a closure plate 26. Each ejector 23 is furtherprovided upon the bottom adjacent the rear end thereof with a notch 27for receiving the spring catch 22 of its associated slats 20, so thatwhen the ejector is moved rearwardly to the full extent this catchengages in the notch and locks the ejector against withdrawal. When inthis position the closure flange 26 thereof is positioned directlybeneath the strip 1 5 supporting the transparent panels 17 and 1s theplate 24 of the ejector 23 a distance equal to the thickness of thearticle to be vended.

Each ejector'23 is provided with an adjustable bumper plate 29comprising a fiat strip of metal of a width equal to the width of theejector and resting upon the flanges 25 thereof. `This plate is providedat its forward end with a depending flange 30 terminating in aright-angular extension 31 slidably engaging the plate 24 between theflanges 25 and having a slot 32 formed therein through which a clampingadjusting element 33 is directed for engagement with such platev 24. Byloosening this screw or the like the plate 29 may be adjustedlongitudinally of the ejector member so that the space between itsflange 30 and the closure flange 26 of the ejector member is equal tothe length of the article to be vended. It is pointed out that by theuse of this construction the entrance of the article to be vended intothe ejector member is prevented until the ejectormember has been movedrearwardly to its fullest extent and that, accordingly, the ejectormember must be moved to the locked position before a further articlewill be engaged thereby for withdrawal.

Each ejector member lis further provided upon its under surface with adownwardly projecting flange 34 of a width equal to the space betweenthe adjacent edges of the slats 20 associated therewith, the lower endof this flange being provided with angular extensions 35 underlying theslats 2O in spaced relation thereto. These extensions 35 are preferablyformed by providing a T head upon the flange 34 and this T head isslotted on its under surface as indicated at 36, the rear edge of theslot being in the form of an abrupt shoulder 37 and the forward vedge ofthe slot providing an inclined cam face 38 and a stop shoulder 39 incombination. The spacing of the upper surfaces of the angular extensions35, formed by the T head from the under surface of the slats 20, is suchas to permit upward movement of the rear end of the ejector 23 asufficient distance' to permit disengagement of the spring catch 22 ofthe slats from the notch 27 thereof, so as to free the ejector formovement. Each ejector 23 has further secured thereto one end of aspring 40, the opposite end of which is secured to the rear wall 10 ofthe vending machine, this spring being secured to the ejector upon theplate 24 thereof and beneath the bumper plate 29 so that it is housedand its interference with goods in the compartment C is prevented.

Secured to the base and extending upwardly-:therefrom beneath the endmembers 11 is a front or closure plate 41 and upon the the rear edge ofthese slots.

upper surface of this other base, between the closure plate 41 and therear wall 10, is provided a pair of .parallel tracks 42 extend inglongitudinally of the base. The numeral 43 designates a containerprovided upon its under surface with supporting wheels 44 engaging thesetracks to guide the travel of the container; 43. The frontend of the container 43 is arranged immediately adjacent the rear face of the closure.plate 41 and this container encloses a coin controlled lock mechanism,including a plunger 45 and a coin chute 46 which project throughlongitudinally extending slots 47 and 48, respectively, formed in theplate 41 and provide means whereby the container 43- may be shifted toalign the same with the desired compartment. The coin controlled lockmechanism may be of any suitable character, that herein illustratedbeing the coin controlled mechanism set forth in our co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 626,606, filed March 21, 1923, for coin controllocks for vending machines. As set forth in this application, theplunger 45 is positively locked by means of a trip member 49 until thecoin of the proper denomination is inserted in the lock at which timethe plunger may be longitudinally shifted. In the present constructionwe provide the rear end of the plunger 45, provided with an upwardlyextending arm 50 at its rear end which when the plunger is in theretracted or locked position is positioned in alignment with the slots36 of the ejector members 23, the rear face ofthe arm being positionedimmediately adjacent the abrupt shoulder formed at When this ejectormember .is fully retracted, while po sitioned in the slot 36 of any ofthese ejectors, it will accordingly be obvious that the ejector must bepositively moved to the closed and locked position. The plunger 45 isinoperative to move forwardly further than a predetermined distanceuntil a coin is in position therein, for the reason that a portion ofthis plunger engages against the trip 49, hereinbefore mentioned,thereby checking movement of the plunger since a coin cannot be enteredin the plunger to render the saine operative until the plunger is fullyretracted, for the reason that the plunger embodies a part 51 extendinginto the coin slot when the plunger is not fully withdrawn. It will beobvious that in order for the device to be operative the plunger must bemoved to its rearmost position and accordingly the ejector with which itis associated must be locked. The forward face of the arm 50 is providedwith an inclined cam face 52 and a stop shoulder 53 coacting with theinclined cam face 38 and stop shoulder 39, respectively, of the ejector23 with which it is associated. The inclined cam face 52 comes intoengagement with the cam face 33 of the ejectorv primarily andaccordingly the rear end of the ejector is elevated to disengage thenotch thereof from the spring catch 22, so that the ejector is free to1nove,the stop shoulder 53 then engages with the result that theejector` is moved forwardly t0 the open position at which time thearticle contained therein may be removed. In order to prevent movementof the casing 43 to align the ejector arm 50 thereof we secure to theunder surface of the slats 20 stop strips 54, extending from the forwardends of these slats toward the rear thereof a suflicient distance .thatiny order to clear the rear end of thestrips the ejector arm must be ina fully retracted position.

In the use of the device, in the filling of a compartment the ejector`member 23 of the compartment has a plate 29 thereof adjusted to thelength of the articles to be placed in the compartment, the rear wall 18of the compartment is tli'en adjusted forwardly so thatthe space betweenit and the frontJ panel 17 is likewise equal to the length of` thearticles to be contained therein. The gauge 28 is then adjusted so thatit is spaced from the upper surface of the plate 24 a distance equal tothe thickness of the article, after which the compartment is filled anda panel 17 installed. When it is desired to secure an article from anyof the compartments C the casing 43 is shiftedby engaging either thecoin tube 46 or plunger 45 of the coin controlled lock until the casingis aligned with the desired compartment, a coin is then inserted and theplunger engaged with .the

hand, with the result that the rear end of the ejector 23 of thiscompartment is elevated and its rear endvfreed from the spring catch 22,continued movement of the plunger causes the ejector 23 to be extendedso that the article may be removed therefrom. While the ejector isextended the plate 29 limits the downward movement of articles withinthe compartment C in such a manner as to prevent their withdrawal fromthe compartment and acts to prevent withdrawal until the ejector isfully' retracted. Upon release of the plunger 45 the retraction springsof both the plunger and the ejector will act to return the ejector tothe fully retracted position `where it is locked.

It will be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth iscapable of a considerable range of change and modification without inany manner departing from the spirit of our invention and we accordinglydo not wish to be understood as limitingourselves to the specificdetails of construction hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafterclaimed.

1. In' avending machine, the combination with a casing formed to providea plurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartment having ashiftable article ejector and a shiftable coin controlled mechanismalignable with any of said compartments and having a plunger forshifting the article ejector of the compartment with which it isaligned, said plunger being locked when fully retracted, of means car*ried by the casing preventing shifting of said coin controlled mechanismfrom the compartment withwhich it is aligned until the plunger thereofis fully retracted.

2. In a vending machine and in combination, a casing formed to provide aplurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartment having ashiftable article ejector locked against movement when retracted to itsfullest extent, and shiftable coin controlled mechanism aligned with anyof said compartments, and having a coin released plunger which whenoperated operates the ejector `of the compartment with which it isaligned to eject an article therefrom, said plunger being locked whenfully retracted, means for retracting said plunger,

and an engagement between the plunger and the ejector of the compartmentwith which it is aligned whereby the ejector is fully retracted uponfull retraction of the plunger.

3. In a vending machine and in combination, a casing formed to provide aplurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartment having ashiftable article ejector llocked against movement when retracted toitsY fullest extent, and shiftable coin controlled mechanism alignedwith any of said compartments, and having a coin released plunger whichwhen operated 0perates the ejector of the compartment with which it isaligned to eject an article therefrom, said plunger being locked whenfully retracted, means for retracting said plunger, an engagementbetween the plunger and the ejector of the compartment with which it isaligned whereby the ejector is fully retracted upon full retraction ofthe plunger, and means carried byv the casing preventing shifting -ofthe shiftable coin controlled mechanism from the compartment with whichit is aligned until the plunger thereof is fully retracted. v

4. In` a vending machine and in combina.- tion with a longitudinallyshiftable article ejector locked when in fully. retracted position andreleased for movement upon elevation of the rear end thereof, of acoincontrolled .operating plunger for said ejector initially elevatingthe rear end of said ejector and subsequently shifting the ejector anismalignable With any of said compartments and having a plunger forshifting the article ejector of the compartment With which it isaligned, said plunger being locked when fully retracted, of meanscarried by the casing preventing shifting of said coin controlledmechanism from the compartment With which it is aligned until theplunger thereof is. fully retracted, comprising abutment members carriedby said casing and paralleling the path of movement of said plunger whenactuated to eject an ejector, said. abutment members having their lowerfaces eXtendedbeloW the upper end of the plunger and their rear endsdisposed in approximate alignment With the front face of the plungerWhen in fully retracted position.

6. In a vending machine and in 4combination, a casing formed to providea plurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartment having ashiftable article ejector locked against movement When retracted to itsfullest extent, and shiftable coin controlled mechanism aligned With anyof said compartments, and having a coin released plunger which whenoperated operates the ejector of the compartment with which it isaligned to eject an article therefrom, said plunger being locked whenfully retracted, means for retracting said plunger, and an engagementbetween the plunger and the ejector of the' com- .partment with which itis aligned whereby the ejector is fully retracted upon full retractionof4 the plunger, and means carried by the ejector preventing engagementtherein of an article from its associated compartment until the ejectoris fully retracted.

7. In a vending machine and in combination, a casing formed to provide aplurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartment having ashiftable article ejector locked against movement when retracted to itsfullest extent, and shiftable lcoin controlled mechanism aligned withany of said compartments, and having a coinreleased plunger which whenoperated operates the ejector of the compartment With which it isaligned to eject an article therefrom, said plunger being locked Whenfully retracted, means for retracting said plunger, said ,articleejectors being each provided in its under surface With a slot into Whichthe plunger extends When the control -mechanism is aligned with thecompartment thereof, the plunger engaging the rear Wall of sald slot tothereby shift the ejector to the retracted position during theretraction of the plunger.

I -8. In a vending machine and in combination, a casing formed toprovide a plurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartmenthaving a shiftable article ejector locked against movement Whenretracted to its fullest extent, and shiftable coin controlled mechanismaligned with any of said compartments, and having a coin releasedplunger Which when operated operates the ejector of the compartment Withwhich it is aligned to eject an article therefrom, said plunger beinglocked when fully retracted, means for retracting said plunger, saidarticle. ejectors being each provided in its under surface with a slot.into Which the plunger extends When the control mechanism is alignedwith the compartment thereof, the plunger engaging the rear Wallof saidslot to thereby shift the ejector to the retracted position during theretraction of the plunger, the opposite Wall of the slot having a camface and a cam face formed on theV adjacent side of thc plunger coactingwith said cam face upon actuation of the plunger to release the ejectorfrom the lock thereof.

9. In a vending machine and in combination With a longitudinally`shiftable article ejector locked when in fully retracted position andreleased for movement upon elevation of the rear end thereof, of a coincontrolled operating plunger for said ejector initially elevating therear end of said ejector and subsequently shifting the ejectorlongitudinally, comprising a slot formed in said ejector in Which theend of said plunger operates, one Wall of the slot being provided With acam face and a stop shoulder, the adjacent face of the plunger beingprovided With a cam face initially engaging the cam face of the Wall andelevating the ejector, and a stop shoulder subsequent-ly abutting thestop shoulder of the wall to thereby shift the ejector.

ln testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures. y

LEE ROYy SPOONER. PAUL L. GRAY.

